Mechanical musical instrument



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

H. B. NI'GKERSON. MEGHANIGAL MUSIOAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 243,720 Patented July 5,1881.

WITNESSES INVENTE: R

1 v (No Model.) H. B. NIOKERSON. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 243,720. Patented July 5, 1881.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

/ ////////////////////%%////////////j 1 2q\\ \NN ////////W///// ///df 4 lNVENTDR ITNESSEE Lilhugraplvm UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcEO HIRAM B. NIOKERSON, OF ORLEANS, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 243,720, dated July 5, 1881.

Application filed October 22, 1580. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM B. NIcKERsON, of Orleans, in the county of Barnstable and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Musical Instrument, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of musical instruments in which perforated or embossed paper is used for opening the proper valves at the times required for producing mil-- sical effects. The motive power may be supplied from any requisite source.

My invention consists in the arrangement of valves and levers combined with grooved rollers and prepared paper, and in minor details, all of which may be best understood by reference to the specification and drawings.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig.3 shows portions of the grooved feedingrolls, and also the position of the ends of the operating-levers. Fig. at is a side elevation of the instrument. Fig. 5 is a cross vertical section of the same.

Let A represent the main casin g of the instrument, and B the table or top of the instrument. Within the case, and immediately below the top B, I place the bellows D D, one of which is shown in Fig. 2 and both in Fig. 5. These bellows D and D are worked exhaustively by the working-beam F, which is hung at F, Fig. 5, and is worked by the pitman H and crank-pin h, the crank-pin it being inserted in the pinion H.

F and F are links for connecting the working-beam with the bellows D D.

By operating the bellows D D by the pinion H, I am enabled to exhaust very rapidly, as the same pinion H makes a number of revolutions for each turn of the crank K and gearwheel 11 Thus the bellows are operated a number of times for each turn of the crank. Each of the bellows D D is provided with an escape-valve, (l, and a suction-valve, d, (see Fig. 2,) and also an eduction-passage, P P P, to the wind-chamber E. This wind-chamber E is provided with a tension-spring, S, which tends to extend it to its full capacity. The effect of workin g the bellows D D is to exhaust the air from the wind-chamber E, and thus cause a flow of air through the reeds or pipes of the instrument. The object of the wind chamber and its springs is to give an even flow to the current of air through the reeds.

The blocks 0 0, Figs. 1 and 2, are affixed to the top B of the instrument, and serve as holders for the sounding-board L L. This sounding-board contains the reeds, one of which is shown at B, Fig. 2.

Immediately above each of the reeds It an opening is made for the admission of a current of air to sound the notes, each one of these openings being provided with a valve, N, Figs. 1 and 2, each valve having a slight spring, 7), to compress it when it is not acted upon by the lever N a. The lever N a has under it a spring, a, Fig. 2, which forces it onto the end of the valve N, and thus will hold the valve open in opposition to the action of the spring 12. This lever N is pivoted at N hen its end a is up, as indicated at Fig. 2, then its opposite end, N, rests on the rear part of the valve N and keeps it open, so that the corresponding note will be sounded.

The rolls M M are grooved as indicated, corresponding grooves being set opposite to each other, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to allow room for movement of the end n of the lever N a.

It is to be understood, of course, that the number of the reeds, valves, levers, and grooves shall correspond with each other.

T, Fig. 2, represents one of a series of small bells, which may be inserted in the soundingboard, where they will modify the sound by ringing in unison or accord with the sound given out by the reeds; or they may be sounded by small hammers attached to the rear end of the valve N. (See Fig. 2.)

The operation of the instrument is as follows: Theperforated paperis inserted between the feeding-rolls M M, and may be connected to the drawing-roll It, Figs. 1 and 2, by means of a hook, R and clip R the clip It being attached to the roll R, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the roll It being operated by a belt on any convenient device. Now, if we suppose the paper which is inserted between the rollers M M has no perforations, then the ends a of the lovers N n will be depressed. This action will raise the end at of-the levers and allow the valves N to close. This will prevent any current of air through the reeds, and no sound will be produced. When the paper passes along, as it will when the crank K is turned, the perforations will present themselves and the end it of the corresponding lever will spring up. This action will open the valve N, and its corresponding; reed will sound.

The partL L, which contains the reedsR and the bells T, maybe called the resoundingboard, as it is connected directly with the primary soundin g-board B B, the joint between the two being made air-tightby a soft packing, T. The object of this resounding-board is to make the tones richer and not so shrill.

Having thus described my invention, What I desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In con1bination,the grooved feeding-rolls M H, drawing-roll R, levers N n with their springs n thereunder, valves N, with their springs a), and the resounding-board L L, having reeds and openings, arranged to operate 20 substantially as described.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the drawing-roll R, with its clip R in combination with the hook R for attaching the perforated paper thereto, as set forth. 2 5

3. The exhaust-bellows D D, with theirlinks F F under them, in combination with the Working-beam F, located under the bellows and pivoted to the upright F, the pitman H, and crank-pinion H, all constructed and arranged 0 to operate as described.

HIRAM B. NIOKERSON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES TEACHER, 2d, ELIZABETH (J. NORRIS. 

